FAS
The FAS grade, which derives from an original grade “First And Seconds”, will provide the user with long, clear cuttings – best suited for high quality furniture, interior joinery and solid wood mouldings. Minimum board size is 6” and wider and 8’ and longer. The FAS grade includes a range of boards that yield from 83 1/3% (10/12ths) to 100% clear-wood cuttings over the entire surface of the board. The clear cuttings must be a minimum size of 3” wide by 7’ long or 4” wide y 5’ long. The number of these cuttings permitted depends on the size of the board with most boards permitting one to two. The minimum width and length will vary, depending on species and whether the board is green or kiln dried.
Both faces of the board must meet the minimum requirement for FAS.
Note: Minimum yeld 83 1/3% clear wood cuttings on the poor face of the board.
FAS-One-Face (F1F)
This grade is nearly always shipped with FAS. The better face must meet all FAS requirements while the poor face must meet all the requirements of the Number 1 Common grade, thus ensuring the buyer with at least one FAS face. There is no standard percentage of FAS-One-Face that may be included in a shipment; this can vary between suppliers and shipments. If the amount included in a shipment is a concern, please consult the supplier for amount.
Selects
This grade is virtually the same as FAS 1F except for the minimum board size required. Selects allow boards 4” and wider and 6’ and longer in length. The Selects grade is generally associated with the northern regions of the USA and is also shipped in combination with the FAS grade. Often export shipments of upper grades are simply referred to as FAS. The conventional business practice for American hardwoods is to ship these upper grades in some combination. Working closely with the supplier will enable the buyer to be sure that the expected quality will be received. Whether FAS is combined with F1F (Face And Better) or Selects (Select And Better) every board in the shipment must have a minimum of one FAS face.
Number 1 Common (No. 1C)
The Number 1 Common grade is often referred to as the Cabinet grade in the USA because of its adaptability to the standard sizes of kitchen cabinet doors used throughout the United States. Number 1 Common is widely used in the manufacture of furniture parts as well, for this same reason. The Number 1 Common grades includes boards that are a minimum of 3” wide and 4’ long and will yield clear face cuttings from 66 2/3% (8/12ths) up to, but not including, the minimum requirement for FAS (83 1/3%). The smallest clear cuttings allowed are 3” by 3’ and 4” by 2’. The number of these clear cuttings is determined by the size of the board.
Both faces of the board must meet the minimum requirement for Number 1 Common.
Note: If the better face meets the requirements for FAS and the poor face meets the requirements for Number 1 Common, the grade has the potential of being a F1F or Selects.
Number 2A Common (No. 2AC)
The Number 2A Common grade is often referred to as the Economy grade because of its price and suitability for a wide range of furniture parts. It is also the grade of choice for the US hardwood flooring industry. The Number 2A Common grade includes boards that are a minimum of 3” wide and 4’ long that yield from 50% (6/12ths) up to, but not including, the minimum requirement for Number 1 Common (66 2/3%). The smallest clear cutting allowed is 3” by 2’ and the number of these cuttings depends on the size of the board. If the poorest face meets the minimum requirements for Number 2A Common, it does not matter what the grade of the better face is.
Note: If the better face meets the requirements for FAS and the poor face meets the requirements for Number 1 Common, the grade has the potential of being a F1F or Selects.
Note: If the better face meets the requirements for FAS and the poor face meets the requirements for Number 1 Common, the grade has the potential of being a F1F or Selects.
Number 2B Common (No. 2BC)
Number 2B Common has the same requirements as Number 2A Common with the exception that all required cuttings are only required to be Sound.
Number 2 Common is a combination of Number 2A Common and Number 2B Common with no percentage of either grade required in any shipment.
These Standard Grades form the framework by which all American hardwoods are traded. It is important to note that between buyer and seller any exception to these rules is permissible and even encouraged. For a complete description of the NHLA grades, consult the NHLA’s “Rules for the Measurement and Inspection of Hardwoods and Cypress”.